Samsula, Fla - In spite of dropping temperatures, sixteen of Florida's best Super Late Model drivers made their way to New Smyrna Speedway for the first Super Late Model 100 lap race of the year, the Red Eye 100.
Only one car was not able to qualify, Travis Kittleosn. Kittleson's engine blew in warm-ups. Aric Almirola, who did not have very good luck last year in his first year of competition in the Super Late Model division, set fast time with a 17.931. Almirola was the only driver to hit the 17 second run. Mike Good set second fast time with a 18.l38 followed by Bruce Lawrence with a 18.154.
Almirola picked a 3 pill which put Mike Good on the pole and Bruce Lawrence outside pole. When the green was thrown, Lawrence jumped to the lead over Good, Almirola, Bruce Lawrence, Jr., and B.J. McLeod. By lap 8, Almirola had taken the lead and set sails for his first win.
Justin Drawdy was making his way to the front moving into fifth then fourth. By lap 20, Drawdy had settled in the third position putting Bruce Lawrence fourth and B.J. McLeod fifth. McLeod, who has run a white Super Late, debuted his new black and flame #78 to rave reviews. The fans loved his new paint scheme and it definitely fit McLeod's determination for a good finish and a better year.
With 50 laps on the book, it was Almirola, Good, Drawdy, Lawrence, Rogers, McLeod, Daniel Keene, Fain Skinner and Bruce Lawrence III. Lap 55 saw the first caution of the race when Drawdy suffered a flat tire and dusted the wall.
The reace restarted on lap 60 and on lap 62, Fain Skinner showed his driving talent as he went high coming off turn 3 headed for the turn 4 wall and was able to sae the car and continue racing. The frozen fans were unfrozen for a few seconds with his talented move.
Lap 71 saw the second caution come out for Almirola who suffered a flat while leading. Almirola pitted for a new tire and returned to the rear of the lead lap. The top five now was Good, Rogers, McLeod, Keene, and Lawrence.
With the laps winding down, Keene took over third putting McLeod fourth. Almirola was fighting his way back to the lead when on lap 91, Bruce Lawrence III spun in turn 4. Restart lap 94 and on lap 95, Rogers and Keene get together with both going to the end of the lead lap.
On the restart of lap 95, coming off turn 1, McLeod and Rogers bring out the only red flag of the night as they both hit the turn l-2 wall. McLeod, with his flames blazing, climbed up the wall but came down on all fours. Both cars were done with only five laps remaining, ending their good runs for the Red Eye 100.
Good held the point on the final restart and took the win followed by Daniel Keene, Bruce Lawrence, and Aric Almirola, the only other cars on the lead lap. Jim "Hoot" Flynn was shown in fifth.
Tim Clark had the point for the Late Model feature race but it was Tim Russell who took the win. Bobby Orr debuted his new #30 Late Model owned by Bobby McClelland. Following Russell to the checkers was Tim Clark, #25, Bobby Orr and Bobby Fleckenger.
David Castello held the point for the Mini Stock feature but it was Tim "Missileman" McPhail who jumped to the lead in the #61 which will be driven by his father during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February. Also joining the Mini Stock field was Mike Williams, son of Michael Williams, in his new #1 Mini Stock. Following McPhail to the checkers was Derrick Reeves, Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulipus, Dick Laszlo, and Rex Christensen. McPhail was dq'd in tech giving the win to Reeves and putting Mike Williams in fifth.
Ron Lufcy took the lead for the Sportsman feature event but it was Mike Trocki who passed Lufcy for the point. Bruce Gayton, one of the regular Sportsman at Orlando SpeedWorld, gave the crowd a thrill when a fire was seen under his car. The race was stopped and Gayton was able to pit and repair and return to the race. Following Trocki to the checkers was Ron Lufcy, Terry Wright, Bruce Gayton, and Dennis Gilliam.
When Jeff Colburn took the point for the Super Stock feature, fans were making sure they still had toes and fingers with the rapidly dropping temperatures. Colburn brought out the caution which turned the lead over to David Gould but it was Charlie Collins who fought Billy Cuddy for the checkers. Collins also did a great save coming off turn 3 when Cuddy pushed him up towards the wall. Following Collins to the checkers was Billy Cuddy, David Gould, Lee Wagner, and Robbie Gauther.
Shane Held, another Orlando SpeedWorld regular, held the point for the Modified feature but it was Brad May who took the lead over Held on the green. May tried but was unable to stop Jerry Symons from taking the point and the win. Following Symons to the checkers was May, Chad Pierce, Shane Held, David LeBeau, and Tom Held.
The last feature event of the night was the Strictly Stock division who saw Tim Edmundson lead from flag to flag. Following Edmundson to the checkers was Jim Leslie, Jeremy Hovencamp, Kerry Payne, and James Smith, Sr.
On January 7th, the Race for Kids Sake will take on the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway with NASCAR drivers running a 15 lap race and holding an auto- graph session for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Volusia County.
On January 18th, the first Pete Orr Memorial 125 Sunbelt Super Late Model race will open the 2003 season for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series. More details will follow.
